Shedding mechanism for looms



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SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Original Fild D 22, 1949 l3 Sheets-Sheet 51N VEN TO 0$0RIVE F lRl/VG' LEONARD. M. DOE/WAN.

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May 8, 1951 o. FIRING ET AL smannmc; MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Origihal FiledDec. 22, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR5. FIR/N6. .QGHMAN.

OSBORNE. LEONARD.M BY

May 8, 1951 o. FIRING ET AL SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS l3 Sheets-Sheet7 inal Filed Dec. 22, 1949 mow y 1951 o. FIRING ET AL 2,552,418

SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Original Filed Dec. 22, 1949 13Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS, FIR/N6 ALDO/HM N.

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SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS inal Filed Dec. 22, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet 12LE'UNARO M. 00/76 ATTORNEY y 1951 o. FIRING ETAL 2,552,418

SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Original Filed Dec. 22, 1949 r 13Sheets-Sheet l3 z ii IN ENTORS. OSBORNE. FIR/N6 LE 4/70..00RNAN.

A TTOQNEX Patented May 8, 1951 SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS OsborneFiring, Staten Island, N. Y., and Leonard e, Pa., assignors to Talon,Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application December 22,1945, Serial No. 636,920, now Patent No. 2,497,077, dated February 14,1950. Divided and this application February 10, 1949, Serial No. 75,722

M. Dorman, Meadvill 9 Claims.

This invention relates to looms and, particularly, to an improved loomadaptable for weaving narrow fabrics such as tapes, webbing, ribbon,etc, which is capable of considerably higher speeds of operation thanlooms heretofore used for such weaving of such products.

This application is a division of our co-pending application Serial No.636,920, filed December 22, 194.5, which issued into Patent No.2,497,077.

The loom of the present invention relates to the class of looms of theso-called shuttleless type wherein the Weft or filler threads areprojected through the shed of the warps by a filling finger or weftneedle and wherein another device, usually a knitting needle disposed onthe opposite side of the shed, cooperates with the weft needle to catchthe loop of Weft threads projected through the shed thereby, with suchdevice or knitting needle retaining the loops of filling r weft threaddisposed by the weft needle in the warp sheds and knitting each loopthrough the preceding loop so as to provide a knitted selvage along thatedge.

While various types of these shuttleless looms have been heretoforesuggested and used, they have been objectionable for one reason oranother. In most of these looms, the heddles for forming and changingthe warp shed were positioned such a great distance from the fell of thefabric being woven that those portions of the warps positioned betweenthe heddles and the fell of the fabric would tend to sag or .lag duringthe changing of the shed and, consequently, the warps were subjected toan excessive strain during the changing of the shed, thereby oftentimesresulting in not providing the proper shed opening or a shed in theproper timed relation for the entrance of the weft needle thereinto.Consequently, a poor and non-uniform product resulted. Also, it will beseen that if the heddles are positioned too great a distance from thefell of the fabric, it is necessary to provide a large and cumbersomemachine which necessarily consumes a large amount of floor space. On theother hand, if the heddles are positioned too close to the fell of thefabric, they interfere with the beating up mechanism usually provided insuch looms. Also, in such a case a relatively long travel of the heddlesis necessary in order to provide sheds having suflicient height toreceive the filling finger or weft needle thereby limiting materiallythe speed at which the loom could be efficiently operated. Also, in mostof these looms, the jack and heddle arrangement and the driving meanstherefor were so constructed and arranged that it wa necessary toposition the jacks a relatively great distance apart thereby spreadingthe jack and heddle assembly over a relatively large area which, ofcourse, consumed a large amount of space in the machine and,consequently, the outermost jack and heddle were positioned a greatdistance from the fell of the fabric which, of course, is objectionable.

In other of these looms, a separate beating mechanism was provided tomove the successive picks of the Weft threads into position at the fellof the fabric. While it has been heretofore proposed -to construct andoperate the weft needle in uch a manner that it operates both as a means.to project the weft threads through the warp sheds and also as means tobeat up or move the successive warp threads into position at the fell ofthe fabric, thereby dispensing with a separate beating up means, theneedles heretofore proposed and used for such a combined purpose wereconstructed and operated in such a-manner that only the free end of theneedle contacted the weft thread as the needle was being withdrawn fromthe shed. This was objectionable for the reason that a non-uniformbeating up of the weft threads resulted. vIn other words, the end of thefinger or needle in such looms merely crowded the weft thread unevenlyinto the fell as it was retracted from the shed, and it did not beat upthe weft thread simultaneously throughout or co-extensive with the widthof the fabric so as to move uniformly the picks of Weft thread. into thefell, thereby resulting oftentimes in an uneven lay of the weft threadbetween the warps of the finished product.

Accordingly, it is the general object .of the present invention toprovide a loom wherein all of the above mentioned disadvantages .andothers have been eliminated and, at the same time, to provide a loomwhich is small andcompactand operable at a greatly increased speed overother looms of the shuttleless type heretofore suggested and used.

It is one of the objects of this invention toprovide an improved loominwhich all of the "heddles are positioned a relatively short distancefrom the fell of the fabric whereby the heddles need travel only arelatively short distance to form and change the shed between the warpthreads, thereby permitting the loom to operate at relatively highspeeds.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved loomwherein the jacks together with the heddle carried thereby arepositioned directly next and in slidable engagement with each other sothat the overall amount of space occupied by the jacks and heddles isconfined to a minimum.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improvedshuttleless loom in which the path of the filler or weft needle followsa relatively small closed curve substantially in the form of a figure 3and approaching substantially a straight reciprocating movement therebypermitting the heddles to be positioned relatively close to the fell ofthe fabric.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedloom of the shuttleless type in which the shed is changed while thefiller or weft needle is in its projected position in the previous shedso as to provide a scissors effect on said needle whereby the loopformed in the weft thread at the end of the needle is maintained thereinuntil it is properly caught at the side of the shed and permitting theloom to operate at relatively high speeds.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improvedshuttleless loom in which there is provided means for measuring andpaying off the weft thread to the filler or weft needle as it passesthrough the shed with said means drawing the weft thread from its sourceof supply whereby only an amount of weft thread sufficient for a singlepick is permitted to be drawn from the source of supply at one time,thereby preventing the weft thread from sagging or flopping around inthe shed and so as to insure that identical lengths of the filler threadare positioned in the shed.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be moreapparent in the course of the following specification and will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose ofillustration, one embodiment which our invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings;

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the improved loom of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. *7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-'i of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line |0-lfl of Fi 2;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line ll-l l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 4, showingthe filler or weft needle assembly at the top of the loom and thedriving means therefor;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line l3l3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail view in plan of the improved filler orweft needle of our invention;

Fig. 140. is a sectional view taken on line I la-Ma of Fig. 14;

Fig. 15 is a view partly in section of the forward edge of the needle,as shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the upper portion ofthe loom similar to Fig. 5, showing the fabric beam and the positioningof the heddles for forming a shed between the warp threads;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on line llll of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through one of the heddleframes, showing how it is attached to one of the jacks;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken on line 59-49 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken on line 28-28 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view taken on line 2i-2l of Fig. 18;

Fig. 22 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the heddles showingthe eye arrangement therein;

Fig. 23 is an enlarged plan view of the loom in the vicinity of the fellof the fabric, showing the movement of the filler or weft needle throughthe shed of the warps together with the positioning of the weft threadtherein;

Fig. 24 is an enlarged plan view of the loom at the point of weaving,showing the filler or weft needle in its beating up position in the shedand showing the knitting needle cooperating with the free end of theweft needle to catch the loop of weft thread projected through the shedthereby;

Fig. 25 is a sectional view taken on line 2525 of Fig. 24, showing theshed changing;

Fig. 26 is an enlarged plan View, similar to Fig. 18, showing the filleror weft needle being retracted from the shed after the knitting needlehas passed through and caught the loop of weft thread;

Fig. 27 is a sectional view taken on line 2'l-2'l of Fig. 26, showingthe shed changed while the filler or weft needle is still projected intothe previously formed shed so as to provide a scissors effect on theWeft needle; and

Fig. 28 is a fragmentary view of the free end of the weft needle,showing how a loop is formed in the weft thread on the under side forreceiving the knitting needle.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved loom of ourinvention comprises a rectangular-shaped housing 2 having end walls 3and 4, side walls 5 and 6, a top wall 7, and a bottom wall 8, whichhousing consists preferably of a steel casting. In the end wall 3, asmore clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, there is suitablymounted a bearing 9 in which there is journalled a shaft i9. There issecured to the shaft l0 adjacent the outer end thereof, on the outerside of the housing, a flywheel l2 and a pulley l3 over which a belt isadapted to be disposed which is connected to a suitable source of power,such as a motor (not shown), for driving the shaft I0.

Jack and heddle arrangement Within the housing 2, there is arranged twopairs of parallel shafts l4, l5, l6, and I! with the shafts of each pairarranged one above the other and at a spaced distance from each other.On one end of each of the shafts l4, [5, IE, and I1, there is arranged agear i9, 20, 2|, and 22, respectively, with the gears 19 and 29 on theshafts l4 and I5 meshing with each other, and with the gears 21 and 22on the shafts l6 and I1 meshing with each other. Both of the gears l9and 2| on "the lower shafts l4 and :6 also mesh with a gear l8 arrangedon the inner end of the driveshaft It]. By such arrangement, it will beseen that the shaft I upon rotation will drive the shafts [4, I5, I6,and I! through the action of the gears I8, [9, 28, 21, and 22. Theshafts l4 to IT are journalled in suitable bearings 24 and 2B,respectively, which bearings are mounted in two pairs of brackets 21 and28 with brackets of each pair being Spaced from each other and carriedby plates 29 and 30, respectively, mounted on the side walls 6 and 5,respectively, of the housing 2, by any suitable means, such as a seriesof machine screws 27a. Extending between the pair of rackets 21 at aspaced distance from each other, there is provided a pair of rods orshafts 3| and 32 which rods extend substantially parallel to each otherand to the shafts l4 and I5. Directly below the shaft Hi, there isarranged a plurality of horizontally extending spaced-apart levers 33,four in the present instance, with one end of each of these levers beingpivotally attached to the lower rod 3|. On the opposite end of each ofthe levers 33, there is arranged a set of teeth 34 so as to provide asegmental gear arrangement, which teeth are provided for a purposehereinafter to be described.

Above the shaft I5, there is arranged another series of horizontallydisposed levers 35, four in the present instance, with the outer end ofeach of these levers being pivotally attached to the upper rod 32. Onthe inner end of each of the levers 35, there is arranged a set of teeth36 similar to the teeth 34 of the levers 33. The levers 33 and 35 arestaggered relative to each other for reasons to be explained. On theshaft I4 there is arranged a plurality of spaced-apart cams 31 identicalin number to the number of levers 33, with which they cooperate. On theshaft l5, there is mounted a plurality of similar spaced-apart cams 38identical in number to the number of levers '35 with which these camscooperate. On each of the levers 33, there is mounted intermediate thelength thereof, a roller 33a each of which acts as a cam follower forthe respective cams 31 and on each of the levers 35, there is arranged asimilar roller 35a which acts as a cam follower for the respective cams38. Extending between each of the levers 33 and one of each of thelevers 35, there is arranged vertically a tension coil spring 33 whichacts to move these levers 33 and 35 toward each other about theirpivotal connections with the rods 3! and 32, respectively. These springs39 are provided for the purpose of maintaining the rollers 33a and 35aof the levers 33 and 35, respectively, in contact with their respectivecams 3'! and 38 carried by the shafts l4 and I5.

On the opposite side of the loom and the shaft ill, there is provided asimilar arrangement of levers and cams. In such arrangementthere isprovided another pair of parallel rods or shafts 40 and 4|,respectively, which extend between the pair of brackets 28. Below theshaft It on this side of the loom, there is arranged a plurality oflevers 42, four in the present instance, with one end of each of thembeing pivotally attached to the rod 40. On the opposite or inner end ofeach of the levers 42, there is provided a set of teeth 43 so as toprovide a segmental gear arrangement. On the shaft it, there is arrangeda plurality of spaced-apart cams 44, similar in number to the number oflevers 42 with which they cooperate. Above the shaft ll, there isarranged another series of levers 45, four in the present instance, withone end of each of these levers being pivotally attached to the rod 4|and on the opposite end of each of these levers there is provided asimilar set of teeth 46. On the shaft l1, there is mounted a pluralityof spaced-apart cams 41 similar in number to the number of levers 45springs being attached to the respective levers.

It is the purpose of these springs 48 to maintain the rollers 42a and45a of the levers 42 and 45 in contact with their respective cams 44 and41 of the shafts I6 and I7, respectively. It will be understood that thelevers of each group of levers 33, 35, 42, and 45 are staggered relativeto the levers of each other group. In other words, the levers of onegroup are not positioned directly above or opposite the levers of anyother group. Such an arrangement permits the drive levers, together withcams for driving the same, to be positioned relatively close together.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 5 and "7, centrally of the loom betweenthe pairs of shafts l4, l5, and i3, ll, there is arranged verticallywithin the housing 2, a plurality of elongated relatively thin bar-likejacks 50, four being shown in the drawings, which extend down to a pointbelow the lowermost levers '33 and 42. The jacks are positioned inalignment with and disposed directly next to and in slidable engagementwith each other. Adjacent both the top and bottom of each of the jacks,there is provided a thickened portion 5i having opposed flat surfaces 52which act as slidable bearing surfaces for the jacks as they reciprocateand slide over one another in side-'by-side relation when the loom is inoperation.

Adjacent the lower end of the first and every fourth jack 5i!thereafter, there is arranged in one edge thereof, a set of teeth 53which cooperate and mesh with the teeth 34 in the end of the respectivelevers 33. On the opposite side of the second jack and every fourth jackthereafter, there is arranged in the edge thereof adjacent the top, asimilar set of teeth 54 which cooperate and mesh with the teeth 46 inthe end of the respective lever 45. Againadjacent the bottom of thethird jack and every fourth jack thereafter, there is arranged in thatedge thereof opposite the side in which the teeth 53 are arranged,another similar set of teeth 55 which cooperate and mesh with the set ofteeth 43 in the end of the respective levers 42. There is likewisearranged in the fourth and every fourth jack thereafter in the edgethereof opposite that side in which the set of teeth 54 in the secondjack are located, another similar set of teeth 58 which cooperate andmesh with the teeth in the end of the respective levers 35.

Adjacent the lower end of each jack '53, there is arranged therethroughan eye 51 to which one end of a tension coil spring 53 is attached withthe opposite end of each of these springs being suitably attached, as at59, to the inside walls 5 and 6 of the housing. It is the purpose ofthese springs to maintain the teeth in the edges of the jacks in meshwith the teeth of the respective levers and to prevent any lost motionor backlash of the jacks and levers.

The lower portions of the jacks 50 are reciprocably mounted in arectangular-shaped recess 60 of a horizontal guide member 6| in the formof a bar which is secured to and preferably bridges the pair of brackets28. The upper portions of the jacks likewise extend through an opening62a in the top I of the housing and through a rectangular-shaped opening62 in a guide block or member 63 mounted on top of the housing. On topof the member 63 there is positioned an adjustable or removable plate 64secured thereto by means of machine screws 65. It is the purpose of thisplate to alter the size of the opening 62 through the member 63 inaccordance with the number of jacks adapted to be disposed therein orused for any particular weave. In the present instance, there is shownonly four jacks which is all that is required to produce a fabric of aconventional weave. It will be understood, however, that as many assixteen jacks can be used, if desired, to obtain any desired weave,there being provided sufficient levers and cams, namely, sixteen of eachfor drivin such a number of jacks. In using four jacks as in the presentcase, it will be seen that only a corresponding number, namely, four ofthe levers and cams are used. In case it is desired to use sixteenjacks, the plate 64 is entirely removed, the opening 82 in the member 63having such dimensions to accommodate such a number of jacks and in casea fewer number of jacks is used, the plate 84 is adjusted so that thesize of the opening 62 is just large enough to accommodate the number ofjacks being used. By providing such a jack construction and arrangement,together with the driving means therefor, it will be seen that theoverall space occupied by the jacks i confined to aminimum.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 18 through 22 of the drawings, there ispositioned on the upper end of each of the jacks d and secured thereto,a pair of spaced-apart horizontally disposed parallel plates 66 whichextend substantially perpendicular to the jacks. There is arrangedadjacent each end of the plates 66, a pin 6'! which extendstherebetween. There is provided a plurality of inverted U-shaped harnessor heddle frames 68 preferably made from a piece of inherently resilientwire or narrow flat metallic strip, with each of these frames adapted tobe attached to one of the jacks 5B. In the free end of each of the le orside portions of each of the frames 68, there is arranged a hook-shapedportion 69 which portions are disposed between the plates G6 and inengagement with the pins 6'7 extending therebetween. In other words, thehook-shaped portions 65 due to the resiliency of the frame, may beconveniently snapped into position on the end of the jacks with thehook-shaped portions 89 disposed on the inner sides of the respectivepins 6?, with the leg or side portions tending to spring outwardly awayfrom each other so as to bring the hook-shaped portions carried therebyinto engagement with the respective pins 61. In each of the heddleframes 68, there is arranged a pair of spaced-apart horizontallydisposed heddle bars ill and H with one of these heddle bars arrangedadjacent the top of the frame and the other arranged adjacent the bottomthereof. These bars extend through elongated aligned penings arranged inthe respective sides of the frame. On one end of each of the bars and N,there is arranged an enlarged or deformed portion 12 and 13,respectively, so as to prevent these ends of the bars from passingthrough the openings in the frame. On the opposite ends of the bars l0and H, there are arranged hookshaped portion (4 and 15, respectively,with the respective hook-shaped portions facing each other. These heddlebars ill and H are mounted in the frames by inserting them through theopenings in one side thereof and through the openings in the oppositeside thereof with the respective enlarged or deformed portions 12 and T3preventing the bars from passing all the way through the openings. Insuch position, the hook-shaped portions 14 and 15 on the opposite endsof these bars will be positioned on the outer side of the opposite sideof the frame. Between the hook-shaped portions 14 and 15 of the bars 10and I I, respectively, there is disposed an inherently resilientvertically disposed retaining member 16 which is slotted at each end andso as to provide forked end portions 16a which are adapted to fit in andcooperate with the respective hook-shaped portions M and 15 to lock thebars l0 and il in the frame.

There is arranged in each frame 68, a plurality of heddles 11,preferably formed from relatively flat thin resilient metallic stock.Adjacent each end of each of the heddles 11, there is arrangedtherethrough a rectangular-shaped aperture 18, which apertures areslightly larger than the cross-section of the bars 10 and H with whichthey cooperate. The heddles 11 are threaded on and positioned slidablyon the heddle bars 10 and H with the heddle bars passing through therespective openings in the ends of the heddles. In other words, theheddles T1 are constructed and arranged so that they are movablehorizontally relative to the bars 10 and H and their respective frames.Centrally of each of the heddles 11, there is formed therein, an eye 19through which a Warp thread is adapted to be threaded, and passes in amanner hereinafter to be described.

It will be seen that the heddles 1'! are disposed loosely within theframe between the sides thereof and that the retaining member '16 isdisposed between the hook-shaped ends 14 and 15 of the heddle members 10and II, respectively, on the outer side of the frame and that theheddles are prevented from becoming displaced from the heddle bars dueto the provision of this spring retaining member 16. If it is desired toreplace or remove any of the heddles from the heddle bars, the retainingmember 16 is removed from its locking engagement with the hook-shapedportions of the horizontal bars merely by springing it outwardly fromthe side of the frame and removing it from the hook-shaped portions ofthe bars. It will be seen then that the horizontal bars 10 and H canthen be moved laterally through the openings in the sides of the heddleframe, thereby permitting replacement or removal of the heddles. Afterthe required number of heddles have been replaced or removed from thebars, the bars are re-inserted in their respective openings in the sidesof the frame and the retaining member 16 is again positioned so as toengage the respective hook-shaped portions 14 and I5 of the heddle barsmerely by springing it into place so as again to lock the heddle bars 10and H in position in the heddle frame. As shown in Figs. 1 and 23, itwill be seen that these heddle frames 68 are graduated in size from thefirst to thelast heddle frame for the purpose of permitting the warpthreads to pass conveniently from the creel or other source of supply.In other words, the distance between the sides of each frame is lessthan the distance between the sides of the next succeeding framethroughout the series of frames so that the distance between the sidesof the frames converges toward the first heddle so as to graduallyconfine all of the warp threads as they pass into the loom.

There is arranged at a spaced distance rearwardly of the heddle frames68, a stationary reed 80 through which the warp threads pass from thesource of supply for keeping them separated before they pass through theheddles TI. This reed 80 is mounted preferably on a bracket 8i which issecured preferably to the outer end of the guide block 63 by means ofmachine screws 82.

Filler or weft needle arrangement As more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and12 through 15 of the drawings, there is arranged on top of the housing 2to one side of the center of the loom and the jack and heddlearrangement, an elongated filler finger or weft needle I for the purposeof projecting loops of the weft thread through the shed of the warps ina manner to be described. This needle is relatively thin and fiat andrelatively wide so as to be substantially blade-like in form. The outeror free end of the needle is preferably relieved so as to provide atapered end, as at IOI, with the upper surface bevelled so as to providea blunt pointed end I02. Toward the forward edge I04 of the needle, thetapered end IIII terminates in a tapered portion IOIa which is taperedto a greater degree than tapered portion I 0|, and which tends to wipethe filler thread into the fell of the fabric when the needle isretracted. In the opposed faces of this needle there are arrangeddirectly opposite each other, longitudinally extending ledges orchannels I03 which are positioned preferably a slight distancerearwardly from the forward edge I 04 of the needle so as to provide ashelf-like portion therealong. The needle I00 is preferably taperedtransversely, as shown in Fig. 14a, from the rear side of the channelI03 to the rear edge thereof with that portion of the needle extendingfrom the channel I03 to the forward edge thereof being relatively thinand flat so as to provide a needle of a blade-like construction.Adjacent the outer or free end of the needle, there is arrangedtherethrough in alignment with the channels or ledges I03 therein, aneye I05 through which the weft thread is adapted to pass.

The inner end of the needle I00 is secured to a reciprocating membe orneedle slide I06 preferably by means of a pair of machine screws I07.The extreme outer portion I03 of the reciprocating member I 95preferably is cylindrical in shape so as to provide a piston-likeportion which is slidably arranged in a cylinder-like portion I09 of anoscillating member I I0. This oscillating member I09 is mounted in asuitable bearing H2 arranged in the top I of the housing and isconnected by means of screws II6 to a flange H3 arranged on the upperend of a vertically extending shaft II I which, in turn, is journalledin. a suitable bearing II5 carried by the arm of a bracket II'I arrangedwithin the housing and which is a part thereof.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 11 of the drawings,

10 below the bracket III, there is arranged a lever II8 having one endthereof securely attached to the lower end of the shaft 4. On theopposite end of the lever II8, there is suitably mounted a rotatableroller III! which acts as a cam follower and cooperates with a cam I20positioned on a vertically arranged shaft I2I for the purpose ofoscillating the member IIO for a purpose and in a manner to bedescribed. To one side of the lever II8, as more clearly shown in Figs.5 and 11, there is arranged preferably a tension coil spring I21 havingone end thereof connected to the lever with the opposite end connectedto the end of a pin I28 carried by the bracket III. It is the purpose ofthis spring to maintain at all times, the roller I I9 in contact withthe cam I20.

Centrally of the member IIO, there is provided in the bottom thereof incooperation with the flange H3 of the shaft 524, an elongated recess orslot I22 in which there is movably positioned, a pin I23 threadedlyconnected to the needle slide I05 at the lower side thereof. There isarranged within the housing, a connecting rod I24 with one end thereofextending into the slot I22 and pivotally connected, as at I33, to thepin I23 therein. The opposite end of the connecting rod I22 is pivctallyconnected to a pin I25 carried by a combined crank and cam I26 which, inturn, is secured to the shaft I'2I. By means of such arrangement, theknife slide I05 together with the knife I00 carried thereby, isreciprocated relative to the oscillating member H0.

The vertical shaft I2I is positioned adjacent one end of the horizontalshaft I6 perpendicular thereto and is journalled in suitable bearingsI29 carried by the bracket IN. on the lower end of the shaft I2! thereis securely mounted thereon, a bevel gear I30 which meshes with a gearI3! mounted on an extension of the shaft l6 whereby the shaft I2I isdriven by this shaft through action of the gears 2| and I8 when the loomis in operation.

Weft tension and measuring Attention is now directed more particularlyto Fig. 11 of the drawings in which there is shown a weft thread tensiondevice, generally designated at I50, and a weft thread pay-off ormeasuring means, generally designated I5 I, for measuring and paying-offthe weft thread to the needle I 99, in a manner to be described. Thetension device comprises an elongated vertically arranged stem-likeexteriorly threaded member I52 which is screwed into an extendingportion I53 arranged in the top 1 of the housing to one side of theoscillating member H0 and extends into the housing. On the upper end ofthe member I52, there is provided an exteriorly threaded reduced portionI54 on which there is mounted for movement relative thereto, two pairsof circular resilient plates or disks I55, I56 which are disposed one ontop of the other, having a hole arranged centrally thereof through whichthe reduced end I54 of the member I52 extends. There is arranged in thereduced portion I54, a diametrical slot I88 in which a diametricalcenter portion of the uppermost plate I56 is disposed. The lowermostplate of the pair of plates I55 rests upon a lock nut I56a threaded onto the exteriorly threaded portion of the member I52. Above the pair ofplates I55, I56 and in contact with the uppermost plate thereof, thereis provided a frusto-conical-shaped compression coil spring I5! which isdisposed around the reduced portion I54.

ranged on the threaded portion of the reduced portion I54, an adjustablenut I58 for the purpose of varying the compression of the spring I51 onthe top of the disk I56. The spring I51 applies pressure to the pair ofplates I56 which, in turn, are forced toward the pair of plates I55 andit will be seen by providing such an arrangement that tension is appliedto the weft thread when it is disposed between the opposed plates of thepair of plates I55 and I56.

There is arranged axially of the member I52, a longitudinally extendingopening I59 in which there is reciprocably arranged an elongated pin orplunger I66 with one end thereof adapted to contact the diametricalportion of the uppermost plate of the pair of plates I56, which isdisposed in the diametrical slot I86 of the reduced end The opposite endof the plunger I66 extends into the housing and rests upon a projectionI6l of a bell crank I62 which is pivotally attached, as at I63, to thebracket II1. There is provided a link I64 having one end thereofpivotally connected to the bell crank I62, as at I65, with the oppositeend pivotally connected, as at I66, to another bell crank I61 which, inturn, is pivotally connected to the bracket I I1,

. as at I66. There is carried by the bell crank I61,

a rotatable roller I69 which is maintained in contact with a cam I16securely arranged on the shaft I2l. Upon rotation of the shaft I2l, itwill be seen that the plunger I66 is adapted to be reciprocated in avertical plane through the action of the roller I69, the bell cranks I61and I62 and the link I64. Upon movement of the plunger I66, it will beseen that the upper end thereof moves the uppermost plate I56 upwardlyaway from the pair of plates I55 so as to provide sufficient clearancebetween the plates I55 and I55 for free passage of the weft threadtherebetween.

At a predetermined spaced distance from the tension device I56 and fromthe eye I65 in the end of the needle I66, there is arranged the weftpay-off mechanism or measuring means I5I, which is positioned on thesame side of the oscillating member H6 as the tension device I56. Thispay-off mechanism comprises an oscillating angular arm I1I having oneend thereof securely attached to a stud shaft I12 arranged in r asuitable bearing I13 in the top of the housing. The opposite or free endof the arm I1I is offset, as at I14, so as to be disposed above thecylindrical portion I69 of the oscillating member II6. There is arrangedin this off-set or free end portion, an eye I15 through which the weftthread passes from the tension device I56 to the eye I65 in the end ofthe needle I66.

On top of the cylindrical portion I69 of the oscillating member, thereis arranged between the arm HI and the eye in the needle and the tensiondevice I56, a member I16 having eyes I11 and I18 arranged therethroughone above the other through which the weft thread passes. Inwardly ofthe member I16, there is arranged on top of the cylindrical portion I69,another member I19 having an eye therein also through which the weftthread passes, which eye is substantially 'in alignment with the eye I65in the end of the needle I66. On the oscillating member H6 at a pointbeyond the member I16, there is arranged preferably a finger-like guidemember I86 in the form of a wire which is adapted to aid in maintainingthe weft thread in the upper channel or ledge I63 of the needle.

On the lower end of the stud shaft I12, there is secured thereto an armI8I to which one end of a reciprocating rod I82 is pivotally attached,as at I83, and which is arranged in a suitable bearing in the bracket H1within the housing. On the opposite end of the rod I82, there isrotatably mounted a. roller I64 which contacts the cam I85 arranged onthe shaft I2I. The end of the rod is also preferably attached to ayoke-like lever member I89 at the pivotal connection or axis of theroller I64, as at I96, which member in turn is pivotally attached to thebracket II1, as at I9I. It is the purpose of this member to support andguide the inner end of the rod I82. Intermediate the length of the rodI62, there is arranged thereon an adjustable collar I86 and between thiscollar and an adjacent side of the bracket II1, there is arranged aroundthe rod I82, a compression coil spring I81 which maintains the rollerI64 in contact with the cam I85 at all times.

Knitting needle assembly As shown in Figs. 1, 5, 9, ll, 16, and 23 ofthe drawings, there is arranged centrally of the top of the housing toone side of the needle I66 and its assembly, and at a relatively shortdistance from the heddles 11, a tape or fabric breast plate 266, whichis secured to the housing preferably by machin screws 26I and positionedthereon by a tongue-in-groove arrangement 262. This breast platecomprises a block-like member having an arcuate upper surface 263arranged centrally thereof, with upwardly extending sides or flanges 264and 265. The tape or fabric after it is woven is adapted to lie on andpass over the arcuate surface 263 and it is the purpose of the edges264, 265 to guide the outermost warp threads and confine the same on thebreast plate at the fell of the fabric with such fell being disposed atthe inner edge 266 of the breast plate. Above the breast plate and toone side thereof, there is attached to a screw I98, a finger-like guidemember 261 in the form of a Wire which lies upon the breast plateadjacent the inner end thereof and directly next to the flange or side264 adjacent thereto and is provided for the purpose of maintaining theedge of the woven fabric against the inner side of the flange 264. Ifdesired, however, a hold-down member in the form of a, plate extendingover the breast plate in contact with the tape, may be provided formaintaining the warps in position on the breast plate.

On the side of the breast plate 266 opposite that of the needle I66, andon the opposite side of the shed formed by the warps, there is mountedan elongated reciprocating member 268 having arranged on one endthereof, clamping means 266 in which a knitting needle 2I6, preferablyof the beard type, is removably secured. Intermediate the length of themember 268, there is secured thereto, a yoke-like member 2H having abifurcated end 2I2 in which the upper end of a drive pin 2I3 ispositioned. The pin 2I3 extends through a slotted opening 2I4 in the topof the housing and is securely attached to a bell crank 2I5 arrangedwithin the housing. The bell crank N5 is pivotally attached to thebracket II1 by means of a pin 2I6 and there is arranged on one leg ofthis bell crank, a roller 2I1 which contacts a cam 2I8 securely arrangedon the shaft I21. There is provided a tension spring 2I9 having one endthereof connected to the other leg of the bell crank 2I5 and with theopposite end connected to the inner side of the housing. It is thepurpose of this spring to maintain the roller 211 in contact with thecam 2l8. By such an arrangement, it will be seen that the member 208,together with the knitting needle 2 ID carried thereby, is reciprocatedby the action of the cam 2!8, the roller 2H, and the bell crank 2 5 in aplane substantially perpendicular to the front edge 2% of the flange 264with the needle disposed directly next to the outer side of the breastplate.

At a point to one side of the heddle arrangement on the same side of theloom as the knitting needle 2!!l, there is arranged an oscillating lever220 having one end thereof attached to a vertical shaft 22! positionedin a suitable bearing in the top of the housing. This shaft extends intothe housing and there is arranged on the inner end thereof another lever222 on. the free end of which there is rotatably disposed a roller 223which cooperates with and contacts the cam of the combined cam and crankI25. Above the lever 222, there is arranged around the shaft 22!, a coilspring 224 having one end thereof attached to the under side of the topof the housin at 22-5 with the other end engaging the lever 222, as at226. It is the purpose of this spring to maintain the roller 223 incontact with the cam On the free end of the lever 22!] arranged on theshaft 22! above the top of the housing, there ismounted a roller 221,preferably arranged for eccentric adjustment relative to the end of thelever. By this arrangement, it will be seen that the lever 222 isoscillated in a relatively small arc so as to move this arm toward andaway from the side of the shed. The roller on the end of this levercooperates with the beard 228- of the knitting needle 2!!) in itsreciprocating movement and it is the. purpose of this roller to closeintermittently the beard so as to provide a closed loop in. the end ofthe needle in. one position thereof.

Tape 01' warp pull-up As more clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5 ofthe drawings, there is arranged on top of the housing adjacent the rearside 4 thereof, an angularly extending bracket 2513. to which there ispivotally attached, as at 265, an inverted substantially J shaped member25!. The upper end 252 of the member 25! extends over the top of theloom and is positioned at a spaced distance thereabove and is preferablybifurcated, as. at 253, with a friction roller 254 rotatably disposed inthis bifurcated end. There is. arranged around the periphery of thisroller 254, preferably an abrasive in the form of emery cloth for thepurpose of preventing slippage. of the woven fabric relative thereto.There is arranged with this roller 254 to one side thereof, a gear 255which meshes with a similar gear 255 arranged with a roller 251positioned therebelow on a shaft 251 positioned on top of the housing.The roller 251 is similar to the roller 25 1, but preferably slightlylarger in diameter. The gear 256 likewise is slightly larger than thegear 255 so that the roller 254' will travel a faster speed than theroller 251 for a purpose hereinafter to be described. Immediately belowand rearwardly of the roll 25 1, there is suitably arranged in the topof the housing a rod or bar member 258 around which the fabric isadapted to pass before passing to the roller 254.

To one side of the member 25!, there is ar- 14 ranged a tension spring259 having one end thereof attached to a pin 26!] projecting outwardlyfrom the upper end. 252 of the member 25! with the opposite end of thespring suit-- ably attached to the top of the housing, as at 26!. It isthe purpose of this spring to swing the member 25! about its pivotalconnection at 226' so as to maintain and move the rollers 25!! and 251toward each other. The other leg 263 of the member 25 extends downwardlyalong the outer edge of the rear Wall 4 of the housing and there isarranged in the end thereof a screw 26 1 having a nut-like handle 265disposed on the outer end thereof with the inner end of the screw 264adapted to cooperate with a stop portion 268 arranged on the outer sidet of the housing. It is the purpose of this adjusting screw 26 3 to movethe member 25! about its pivotal connection at 266 so as to adjust theposition of the roller 254 carried thereby relative to the opposedroller 251 with which it cooperates, whereby the clearance therebetweencan be varied.

In an offset portion of the side wall 6 of the housing, there is securedto the end of the shaft 261, upon which the roller 251 and the gear 256are. mounted, a sprocket wheel 21!! around which there is disposed achain 21!, the chain also passing over and around a sprocket wheel 2.12.positioned at a spaced distance below the. sprocket 210, which sprocket212 is rotatably arranged on a stud shaft 213 mounted in. the side wallof the housing. Between the two sprockets 212' and 21!] there ispivotally mounted on. the side of the housing, as at 214, an adjustablelever 215' having a small idler sprocket 216 rotatably arranged in thefree end thereof and disposed on the outer side of the chain 21! withwhich it is adapted to cooperate to maintain the chain 21! under theproper tension over the sprockets 21!) and 212, thereby preventing anyclattering of the chain. There is also arranged on the shaft 213 andsecured to the sprocket 21-2 thereon, a gear 211 which is part of acompound gearing arrangement positioned therebelow. This compoundgearing or gear train comprises a gear 218 having a smaller gear 286arranged directly next to and attached thereto, both gears beingrotatably mounted on the free end of an adjustable leverlike member 219with the gear 285 meshing with the gear 211. In the opposite end of themember 219, there is arranged a longitudinally extending slot 28!] inwhich there is disposed a screw 28! for securing the member 219adjustably to the side of the housing. Below the gear 218, there isarranged on the end of a rotatable shaft 282 which extends into thehousing and is suitably journalled in the side 6 thereof, another gear283 which meshes with the gear 218. There is arranged on the oppositeend of the shaft 282 within the housing, another gear 282 which mesheswith a worm gear 285 positioned on the extension of the shaft !6.

Thus, it will be seen that the roller 251 is driven by the chain 21! andthe compound gearing 211, 218, 285, 283 and the gears 284 and 285 whenthe shaft It is rotated by means of the drive shaft 10. Upon rotation ofthe shaft 221 upon which the gear 255 is mounted, together with theroller 251, it will be seen that the roller 25! is also rotated due tothe meshing of the gears 255' and 256. It will be understood that thespeed of the rollers 2'54 and 251

